When Izzy Bizu got lost in Barcelona

From the excitement of festivals all around the world with friends to that well-deserved holiday frolicking by the beach, memories are always being made in summer. It’s no wonder then that the season has a special place in many people’s hearts and minds. It certainly does for Izzy Bizu, the British soul sensation who kicked off H&M’s “Forever Summer” campaign with a glorious cover of Inner Circle’s Sweat. With her honeyed voice and energetic presence, she totally made the song her own.

While we talked with Izzy in the first interview about her life and music, we also discover over cups of green tea in the London sun that there is much more to this singer-songwriter than meets the eye. As she embarks on the festival circuit this summer, Izzy shares with us some of her most memorable moments.

WHAT’S BEEN YOUR MOST MEMORABLE SUMMER?
”I went to Barcelona with a group of friends [a few years ago]. We saw AlunaGeorge at Razzmatazz! I was so happy. Then the boys decided to get coffee and play football outside, but Mika [Izzy’s guitarist] forgot the football in the café and ran back to get it, while the rest of the guys walked in the other direction. Right then a bus came and I fell over. Not like under the bus, [laughs] that would be real Mean Girls! I got up and nobody was there. I was just wearing this summer dress and I had no phone, no money, no passport. I did not know where I was.”

I love how you don’t have to wear makeup. It’s so sexy and chill.

Izzy Bizu on her summer outfit

OH, MY! WHAT DID YOU DO?
”I was like, ‘It’s going to be fine, I just need to find my way back. I have a great sense of direction.’ But I couldn’t find it! So I waited outside a police station for four hours. Someone thought I was homeless! They gave me a piece of bread and a bible. I managed to borrow a guy’s mobile and Facebooked my friends to tell them I was lost. My guitarist finally found me and when we got to the house, I realised that I had found the house [earlier], but when I rung on the doorbell, no one answered, so I thought it was the wrong one. They were all sleeping inside! So that was a memorable summer. But honestly, everything was so good except for that.”

IF YOU COULD HAVE A PERFECT SUMMER, WHAT WOULD IT CONSIST OF?
”Not getting lost… [laughs] But hiking would be so nice. Maybe somewhere hot, but not like 35-degree hot. California or Thailand? I want to do something sporty because I feel maybe we should try something different [laughs].”

WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO WEAR IN THE SUMMER?
”I like fresh white t-shirts, high-waisted denim shorts and sneakers. It’s nice to accessorise. I say that, but if I’m on a proper summer holiday, I hate stuff on me, like a necklace, because it’s sweaty, you know? And I love how you don’t have to wear makeup. It’s so sexy and chill.”

THE SUN IS SHINING IN LONDON ON A HOT JULY DAY, WHERE WOULD WE FIND YOU AND WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING?
”Hampstead Heath. I walk my dog there and we play baseball.”

WHEN WE SAY SUMMER, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF FIRST?
”Skateboarding – I got into it three years ago. One of my friends taught me.”

WERE YOU A NATURAL?
”Nope! [laughs] It took me a month to just balance on the board. I’m not even good. I can cruise and that’s about it, [laughs] but I love it.”

Izzy Bizu kicked off H&M’s “Forever Summer” campaign with her version of "Sweat".